"Tomorrow is International Human Rights Day, and yet here we have a peasant leader shot down in front of his own house by military forces. The AFPhave consistently remained the most brutal violators of human rights in thecountry. Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo , in the meantime, has done nothing to reign in these monsters in the AFP. Pres. Arroyo, as commander-in-chief of theAFP should take a stand on this issue, and push for the surrender, arrest,conviction and punishment of the perpetrators of Ka Marcing's murder."

According to witnesses, Ka Marcing was shot by members of the Armed Forces ofthe Philippines (AFP) in front of his house in Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac. He isone of the witnesses in the Hacienda Luisita massacre which claimed the livesof 14 people. In his dying breathe, Ka Marcing said that his killers weremilitary men.

Beltran said that the killing of Ka Marcing Beltran was evidently politicallymotivated. He said that the peasant leader was an active leader assistingHacienda Luisita workers in pushing for their democratic and economic rights.

The activist solon demanded that Tarlac 2nd District Rep. Benigno "Noynoy"Aquino III take action against the military, as they were killing hisconstituents. "This is the least that Rep. Aquino can do. Ka Marcing was one of his constituents, and its verifiable that Ka Marcing supported him in theMay 2004 Congressional race in Tarlac."

Beltran added, however, that it was difficult to not blame the Cojuangco-Aquinofamily for the murder of Ka Marcing. He said that Ka Marcing was a key witnessin the massacre that took place last Nov. 16. The third committee on human rights hearing on the massacre is scheduled on December 14, and Ka Marcingwas supposed to attend the same.

"The Cojuangcos have been very arrogant, acting above the law and ignoring thecommittee hearings and the charges leveled against them. They have not attendedthe hearings - sending only mere paid representatives. Now, yet anotherpeasant leader has been killed, and the killing is directly linked to thelabor dispute and the brewing agrarian reform fight in the Hacienda. PedroCojuangco - eldest Cojuangco and main manager of the Hacienda should be compelled to attend the hearings and face the allegations against hismanagement and the Cojuangco family."

"Ka Marcing was silenced before he could testify against the PhilippineNational Police (PNP) and the AFP and the massacre they perpetrated.KaMarcing was a brave and principled man. He was a peasant leader and a leaderof the people. He did not back down from threats made against him by the military and the Cojuangco family's hired goons. His killing strengthens thebelief of many workers in the Hacienda that the military are actually on the payroll of the Cojuangco family, and are carrying out their campaign ofvendetta and attrition against the workers and farmworkers," he said. #